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WOOSTER -- Would you believe that for a century, Wayne County was the nerve center of the cabinetmaking industry in America, and what are regarded as the classic American furniture forms were created here? It's absolutely true.
In 1819, Wooster was considered the "jumping off" point for the American frontier. What that means is the embryonic town had developed to the extent that it could provide provisioning for the great westward march that had begun in the United States. It was the last "civilized" point on the map before migrating waves of settlers headed out into the vast Ohio Country and the great unmapped wilderness that lay beyond.
In previous years, the traditional route across America for immigrant settlers had been to arrive at the port of New York City, travel south to Philadelphia, get on the wagon trail that led across southern Pennsylvania to Pittsburgh, and then follow a trail that led to Ohio's Columbiana County and farther westward toward Canton. For several years prior to 1819, Canton had been considered the jump-off point. But with the development of a land office and stores, Wooster took its place.
In 1819 and 1820, a number of major groups migrating westward all converged on Wayne County and changed it forever.
The first major group that left an indelible imprint here was the Germans who emigrated from the southeastern counties of Pennsylvania's so-called "Dutch country." These settlers came from Lancaster, Berks, Lebanon, Lehigh, Bucks and Montgomery counties, bringing their considerable agricultural skills and unique decorative arts traditions.
A second group was the New Englanders who drifted south from Connecticut's Western Reserve area, many of them funneling south via a trail that took them from Medina to Seville and ultimately into Wayne County.
In addition, the first wave of Anabaptists from Sonnenberg, Switzerland, along the French border came here in 1819, settling in Sugar Creek Township and creating an agricultural community that eventually evolved into present-day Kidron. Shortly thereafter, the first wave of what would become a tsunami of French settlers found its way to Paint Township, continuing that settlement south into Holmes County.
All of the cabinetmakers in these various ethnic groups eventually shared ideas, melded their joinery, and jointly refined their technology to evolve what is today considered classic American furniture types.
Between the first coming of the white man to Wayne County in 1806 and the close of the 19th century, at least 325 cabinetmakers had been in business in Wayne County. Some of these shops remained in business for generations, while others lasted but a short time before folding for a wide variety of reasons.
Source: "Artistry of the Cabinetmaker" by Joseph Irvin and Paul Locher
Wednesday: John Zimmerman's indenture
Reporter Paul Locher can be reached at 330-682-2055 or email@example.com.